I have been having trouble for the last 2 months with just the Work VPN dropping on the airport extreme. When it is hooked straight up to the Spectrum Modem it works fine. I have 100/10 meg service. I have set it back to factory defaults twice, and r

My advice is to take the easy way out..

Buy another router.. one that is UPNP so ports will open properly with windows.

It is cheapest easiest and most convenient solution I can think of.

100/10 is not over fast.. almost any standard router now can manage those kind of speeds easily.

Apple build stuff for their own environment and since they don't need UPNP they refuse to install it in their routers.. and don't over worry about VPN either.

You can keep using the Airport as a WAP.. and even use it as normal router behind the more standard UPNP version.

If you really want to fight to make the airport do what you want..

1. Did you upgrade to 7.7.9 firmware.. if so I think it is worthwhile going back to 7.7.8 or 7.7.7 firmware and see if the problem goes away. I am taking the two months ago the problem started as possibly related to firmware update.

2. Make sure the windows computer is set to static IP.

3. Set IPv6 correctly in the computer and airport.. usually that means Link-Local only but it depends on if you are running full IPv6.

4. Most important to use stable DNS servers.. and often the google public ones are the best.. 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 which you can set manually in the airport as well as try it in the computer.

ariss surfboard sb6141.

Ok.. that makes me doubly certain.. there are problems with this particular series of modems and airport AC models.

The actual issue is unclear.. both work fine but married together.. the relationship is stressed..

So you can choose to bounce the arris for a different brand.. zoom is often recommended.. or as I prefer.. use a standard UPNP router.

To fix the strained relationship.. a new router is small price to pay!!

Yes, that is the idea.

I am guessing the Spectrum modem is a pure modem.. but I actually should have asked for model number.

If it is a router model do tell me if you use it bridged..

I can then give you a couple of ways to setup the Airport.. the first being my suggestion above of simple bridge.

But in my own network I find that is less stable than running the airport as DHCP with static IP.

Once you get to the point I can give you specifics of the setup. I have posted the details lots of times.

What is great is this is one of the few unusual things the airport does better than most domestic routers.

No DNS error, Airport roaming network

I even got an apple recommended for it.

As far as suitable router.. it will depend on a number of factors.. if you use wireless on the windows computer.. then buy something with decent wireless.. my recommendation would be Asus RT-AC68U or above.. not cheap but really excellent routers..

If you want something cheap perhaps the TP-Link model like C7 archer.. I am less impressed than before with the hardware quality.. but they should offer something reasonable.

Or Linksys WRT1200AC is also a possible.. If you keep budget around $100 those would work. Look at the Asus though if you want something better long term.